Warhammer Army Points Calculator

Build and optimize your Warhammer army list by calculating total points and power level.

Army Builder

Your Current Army List

Unit Breakdown

Unit Name	Points Cost	Power Level	Quantity	Total Unit Points	Total Unit PL

Army Totals

Formula: Total Points = Sum of (Unit Points Cost * Quantity) for all units.
Total Power Level = Sum of (Power Level * Quantity) for all units.

What is a Warhammer Army Points Calculator?

A Warhammer Army Points Calculator is an essential tool for players of Games Workshop’s popular tabletop wargames, such as Warhammer 40,000 and Warhammer Age of Sigmar. At its core, this calculator helps you determine the total ‘Points’ and ‘Power Level’ (PL) of your army. In the tactical world of Warhammer, armies are built using a point-based system to ensure fair play and balanced matches. Each unit, upgrade, and piece of wargear has a specific point cost. The goal is to construct an army that fits within a pre-determined points limit set by the players or the mission scenario, ensuring a challenging yet winnable game for both sides. Understanding and accurately calculating these points is crucial for competitive play, casual games, and army building. It allows players to experiment with different army compositions, understand the trade-offs between powerful units and their point costs, and ensure their force is legal and ready for the tabletop battlefield.

Who Should Use It?

• New players learning the rules of army building.
• Experienced players optimizing competitive lists.
• Hobbyists experimenting with new unit combinations.
• Tournament players ensuring their lists meet specific points limits.
• Anyone looking for a quick and accurate way to tally their army’s strength.

Common Misconceptions:

• “It’s just about cramming the most units in.” While fitting within points is key, unit synergy, special abilities, and strategic roles are just as, if not more, important.
• “Points cost = how good a unit is.” Points reflect a unit’s raw combat effectiveness and utility, but tactical deployment, mission objectives, and opponent matchups heavily influence actual performance.
• “Power Level is the definitive measure of army strength.” Power Level is a simpler, often less granular, system designed for quick army building, especially in narrative play. Points offer a more refined balance.

Warhammer Army Points Calculator Formula and Mathematical Explanation

The calculation for a Warhammer Army Points Calculator is straightforward addition and multiplication, designed to reflect the game’s system for balancing armies.

Core Calculation: Total Points

The primary goal is to sum the point costs of all units in your army, taking into account any upgrades or the number of models in a squad.

Formula:

Total Points = Σ (Unit Points Cost * Unit Quantity)

Where:

• Σ (Sigma) denotes summation – adding up the results for each unit.
• Unit Points Cost is the base point cost for a single model or a base squad of that unit, plus any mandatory upgrades included in that cost.
• Unit Quantity is the number of models in the unit, or the number of full squads of that unit you are taking. For example, if a unit of 5 Intercessors costs 100 points, and you take two such squads, the quantity is 2. If you take 10 individual models that form one large unit, the quantity might be 10 if the cost is per model. Always refer to the specific rules for how unit size and quantity are measured.

Secondary Calculation: Total Power Level

Power Level (PL) is a simpler system often used for narrative play or faster army building. It generally reflects a unit’s overall combat effectiveness more broadly than points.

Formula:

Total Power Level = Σ (Unit Power Level * Unit Quantity)

Where:

• Σ (Sigma) denotes summation – adding up the results for each unit.
• Unit Power Level is the base Power Level for a single model or a base squad of that unit.
• Unit Quantity is the number of models in the unit, or the number of full squads of that unit you are taking, consistent with how you’ve defined the Unit Points Cost quantity.

Calculation of Intermediate Values

These values provide further insight into your army’s composition:

• Number of Units: This is simply the count of distinct unit entries added to your army list.
• Average Points per Unit: Calculated as Total Points / Number of Units. This gives a general sense of how “expensive” your individual army components are on average.

Variables Table

Variable	Meaning	Unit	Typical Range
Unit Points Cost	The point value assigned to a single model or base squad of a unit, potentially including essential upgrades.	Points	0 – 500+ (depending on unit and game system)
Unit Power Level	A simplified value representing a unit’s combat effectiveness.	Power Level (PL)	0 – 20+ (depending on unit and game system)
Unit Quantity	The number of individual models or full squads of a specific unit fielded in the army.	Count	1 – e.g., 30 for basic infantry, 3 for vehicles/monsters (varies by unit and game)
Total Points	The sum of all points for all units in the army. This determines if the army is legal for a given game size.	Points	100 – 2000+ (common game sizes)
Total Power Level	The sum of all Power Levels for all units. Used for simpler army building.	Power Level (PL)	10 – 100+ (common game sizes)
Number of Units	The count of distinct unit entries in the army list.	Count	1 – 20+
Average Points per Unit	The average point cost across all units in the army.	Points	0 – 500+

Practical Examples (Real-World Use Cases)

Example 1: Building a Small Warhammer 40,000 Patrol Detachment

A player wants to build a Space Marines Patrol Detachment for a 500-point game.

Inputs:

• Captain: 100 Points, 6 PL, Quantity: 1
• Intercessors (Squad of 5): 100 Points, 5 PL, Quantity: 1
• Aggressors (Squad of 3): 120 Points, 5 PL, Quantity: 1
• Redemptor Dreadnought: 180 Points, 10 PL, Quantity: 1

Calculations:

• Total Points: (100*1) + (100*1) + (120*1) + (180*1) = 500 Points
• Total Power Level: (6*1) + (5*1) + (5*1) + (10*1) = 26 PL
• Number of Units: 4
• Average Points per Unit: 500 / 4 = 125 Points

Interpretation: The player has successfully built a 500-point army. The list includes a HQ choice (Captain), a troop choice (Intercessors), an elite choice (Aggressors), and a heavy support choice (Redemptor Dreadnought), providing a balanced force structure. The Power Level is 26, which might be used for a different type of game.

Example 2: Expanding an Age of Sigmar Army for a 1000-Point Game

A player has a small Seraphon force and wants to expand it to 1000 points.

Existing Units:

• Skink Chief: 60 Points, 4 PL, Quantity: 1
• Saurus Warriors (Squad of 10): 180 Points, 8 PL, Quantity: 1

New Units to Add:

• Bastiladon (Solar Engine): 140 Points, 7 PL, Quantity: 1
• Salamander Hunting Pack (3 models): 170 Points, 6 PL, Quantity: 1
• Terradon Riders (Squad of 3): 150 Points, 6 PL, Quantity: 1
• Lord Kroak: 270 Points, 12 PL, Quantity: 1

Calculations (After adding new units):

• Total Points: (60*1) + (180*1) + (140*1) + (170*1) + (150*1) + (270*1) = 970 Points
• Total Power Level: (4*1) + (8*1) + (7*1) + (6*1) + (6*1) + (12*1) = 43 PL
• Number of Units: 6
• Average Points per Unit: 970 / 6 = ~161.67 Points

Interpretation: The player has reached 970 points, which is very close to the 1000-point target. They have 30 points remaining to potentially add a small enhancement or upgrade. The army now includes a mix of infantry, monsters, and cavalry, supported by powerful heroes.

How to Use This Warhammer Army Points Calculator

Using this calculator is simple and designed to streamline your army-building process. Follow these steps:

1. Identify Your Units: List all the units, characters, and support options you intend to include in your army. Refer to your army’s codex or rules source for accurate point and Power Level values.
2. Input Unit Details:
   • Enter the Unit Name (e.g., “Space Marine Tactical Squad”).
   • Input the Points Cost for one model or the base squad.
   • Input the Power Level for one model or the base squad.
   • Specify the Quantity (number of models or full squads). For example, if you’re taking 3 squads of 10 Saurus Warriors, and the base squad cost is for 10 warriors, your quantity is 3. If you’re taking a unit of 5 Terminators, and the cost is per model, your quantity is 5.
3. Add Unit: Click the “Add Unit” button. The unit will be added to your army list table, and the totals will update automatically.
4. Repeat for All Units: Continue adding each unit, character, and support option to your army list until you have included everything.
5. Review Totals: Once all units are added, examine the “Army Totals” section. You will see:
   • Total Points: The sum of all points. Ensure this matches your desired game size (e.g., 500, 1000, 2000 points).
   • Total Power Level: The sum of all Power Levels, useful for different game formats.
   • Number of Units: A count of how many distinct unit entries you have.
   • Average Points per Unit: An average cost across your units.
6. Use Intermediate Values: The table provides a breakdown of each unit’s contribution to your total points and Power Level.
7. Copy Results: Use the “Copy Results” button to copy the key figures for easy sharing or saving.
8. Reset: If you need to start over or clear the current list, click the “Reset Calculator” button.

Decision-Making Guidance: Compare your calculated Total Points against the agreed-upon game limit. If you are over the limit, you’ll need to remove or downgrade units. If you are significantly under, consider adding more units, upgrading existing ones, or adding enhancements for more tactical depth.

Key Factors That Affect Warhammer Army Points Results

Several factors influence the point and Power Level totals of your Warhammer army. Understanding these helps in strategic army building:

1. Unit Type and Role: Core units like troops often have lower costs, while powerful characters, elite infantry, or large monsters typically command higher point values due to their combat effectiveness, durability, or unique abilities.
2. Wargear and Upgrades: Many units can be equipped with different weapons, support systems, or special gear. These upgrades almost always come with an additional point cost, increasing the unit’s overall value. Choosing the right loadout can significantly impact your points total.
3. Unit Size/Quantity: The number of models in a squad or the number of identical squads you take directly multiplies the unit’s base cost. Taking maximum-sized squads or multiple copies of a unit will drastically increase your army’s points. Rules often limit how many of each unit type you can take.
4. Faction Rules and Stratagems: While not directly factored into unit costs, faction-wide abilities, unique stratagems, and special army rules (like Detachment abilities in 40k) can enhance unit performance without increasing their base points. This creates an ‘effective’ power increase relative to their cost.
5. Game Size and Points Limit: The fundamental driver of army composition is the agreed-upon points limit for the game. A 500-point game requires a very different approach than a 2000-point game, forcing choices between taking fewer, more powerful units or more numerous, cheaper ones.
6. Army Building Rules and Restrictions: Codexes and rulebooks often impose restrictions on army composition (e.g., limits on characters, maximum number of heavy support units). These rules ensure diversity and prevent ‘death star’ units from dominating every game, indirectly affecting how points can be spent.
7. Points Adjustments Between Editions/Updates: Games Workshop periodically releases updated points values for units. These balance adjustments mean an army that was optimal in one edition might be too expensive or too cheap in the next, requiring recalculation and strategic adaptation.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: How often do points values change?

Points values are typically updated by Games Workshop between editions of the game, and sometimes via balance dataslates or FAQs during an edition. It’s crucial to use the most current points values available for your game.

Q2: What is the difference between Points and Power Level?

Points offer a more granular and balanced system for army construction, reflecting unit effectiveness with greater precision. Power Level is a simpler, broader measure often used for narrative games or for quicker army building, but it can sometimes be less balanced.

Q3: Can I include upgrades in the points cost?

Yes, when entering the ‘Points Cost’, you should include the cost of any mandatory or chosen upgrades that are part of that unit’s loadout. Some optional upgrades might have their own separate costs.

Q4: What if a unit has variable models in a squad? How do I calculate quantity?

If a unit has a minimum and maximum number of models (e.g., 5-10 models), you typically input the ‘Unit Points Cost’ and ‘Power Level’ for the minimum size, and then set the ‘Quantity’ to the number of models you are taking. Alternatively, if the cost is listed per squad, and you are taking multiple squads, the quantity is the number of squads.

Q5: What is the maximum number of units I can take?

Army building rules, found in the core rules or your faction’s codex, specify limits on the number of units you can take based on the army’s “Detachment” (in 40k) or “Grand Strategy” / “Battleplan” (in Age of Sigmar), and the total points limit.

Q6: How do I use the “Copy Results” button?

Clicking “Copy Results” will copy the main total points, total Power Level, number of units, and average points per unit to your clipboard. You can then paste this information into a document, message, or note.

Q7: Does the calculator account for army-wide buffs or stratagems?

No, this calculator focuses on the base points and Power Level of the units themselves. Army-wide buffs, stratagems, and special character abilities that affect gameplay are tactical elements you manage during the game, not part of the initial army point calculation.

Q8: What does “average points per unit” tell me?

This metric gives you a quick idea of the “cost density” of your army. A low average might indicate many cheap units, while a high average suggests fewer, more expensive, elite units.

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